John C. "Johnny" Morehead

John C. "Johnny" Morehead, 83, of Irwinville, Georgia, died Friday, May 12, 2023, in Irwinville, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, Georgia, with the Rev. Ray Johnson and the Rev. Rex Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Irwinville Cemetery, with Elder Edward McIntyre officiating. The family will receive friends from 5-7 Monday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Morehead was born August 19, 1939, in Irwin County, Georgia, to the late Coatus Lee & Lois Hogan Morehead. He graduated from Irwin County High School and then attended ABAC and the University of Georgia. He returned home to Irwin County to begin farming. Mr. Morehead began his farming career with the purchase of a 360-acre farm, 1 borrowed tractor and a great deal of hard work and determination. Always the entrepreneur, over the years as he farmed tobacco, peanuts, corn, cotton & soybeans he also raised cattle and hogs. He later began Morehead Pecan Company and then Morehead Country Store. He was honored by the Ocilla-Irwin County Chamber of Commerce with the 2014 Agri-Business of the Year Award for Morehead Pecan Company. He was known for his charismatic personality and tall tales. He enjoyed telling everyone about his grandkids.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ann Morris Morehead of Irwinville; son, Lee & Marsha Morehead of Irwinville; daughter, Beth & G.M. Thornton of Irwinville; step-daughter, Sarah Smith of Nashville, Tennessee; grandchildren: Tyler Thornton of Tifton, Caitlyn & Jay Alberson of Irwinville, Emilee Morehead of Tifton, Jasper Thornton & Shelby Trevathan of Greenville, South Carolina, and McKinley & Kristen Morehead of Irwinville; and a great-granddaughter, Lily Alberson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers: C.L. Morehead and Jimmy Morehead; and three sisters: Ruby Dosie, Ruth Poole, and Mary Garrett.